A non-parametric approach for co-analysis of multi-modal brain imaging data: application to Alzheimer's disease

Neuroimage. 2006 Apr 15;30(3):768-79. doi: 10.1016/j.neuroimage.2005.10.052. Epub 2006 Jan 10.

Abstract

We developed a new flexible approach for a co-analysis of multi-modal brain imaging data using a non-parametric framework. In this approach, results from separate analyses on different modalities are combined using a combining function and assessed with a permutation test. This approach identifies several cross-modality relationships, such as concordance and dissociation, without explicitly modeling the correlation between modalities. We applied our approach to structural and perfusion MRI data from an Alzheimer's disease (AD) study. Our approach identified areas of concordance, where both gray matter (GM) density and perfusion decreased together, and areas of dissociation, where GM density and perfusion did not decrease together. In conclusion, these results demonstrate the utility of this new non-parametric method to quantitatively assess the relationships between multiple modalities.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Alzheimer Disease / diagnosis*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging* / statistics & numerical data
  • Male
  • Statistics, Nonparametric